|
Former Communications Director Ronnie Reese was fired amid
allegations of sexual harassment, racism and other abusive
behavior. The allegations were detailed by Chicago media outlets
following Freedom of Information Act requests.
The Chicago Tribune reports complaints first surfaced in 2023,
with multiple women complaining of sexist and other
discriminatory acts. The records show that Reese kept his job
for months even after a city human resources investigator
notified a member of Johnson’s staff of the formal complaints.
“In this particular instance, it is very clear that the system
that I inherited established a process that did not provide full
disclosure of everything that was in that personnel file until
there was a FOIA request,” Johnson said during a Monday press
conference.
Reese, who has denied any wrongdoing, also served as press
secretary for Johnson’s mayoral campaign last year.
Johnson added that his administration does not tolerate the type
of behavior that is alleged.
“There is not a tolerance in our administration for misogyny,
racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, anti-blackness, anti-immigrant,
no tolerance,” said Johnson.
It is the latest blow to Johnson as he tries to endure pushback
from his proposed property tax hike and criticism for his
spending more than a half of billion dollars on sheltering
migrants.
|
|
